Fukupdate 8 (Dec. 2 p.m.): Ding ding. Dave Kaplan of WGN Radio reports the Cubs have signed Fukudome (via MLBTR) to a 4-year, $48-million deal.
Fukupdate 7 (Dec. 11, p.m.): As I’d kind of expected the Giants (S.F.) are making a late push. This could be why things are being held up. For the record I think that Rios from Lincecum deal is a ploy by Sabean.
Fukupdate 6 (Dec. 11, p.m.): Ok, well, here’s a new AP story that says Fukudome has told the Chunichi Dragons that he wants to make a move to the major leagues next year. Now, this story doesn’t have the requisite quotes that agent Joe Urbon requested, but, still…
Fukupdate 5 (Dec. 11, a.m.): Cubbie blogs are growing restless, 1060West.net ponders if Fuku is worth the hype, and I think this title says it all: Listen Mr. Fukudome, There Are Plenty of Other Left-Handed Hitting Fish in the Ocean.
Fukupdate 4 (Dec. 10, p.m.): Agent Urbon says, hold the phone. Fukudome did not announce he was leaving Japan. But he will announce tonight (PST).
Fukupdate 3 (Dec. 9, p.m.): SFgate.com reports Fukudome will not join the Yomiuri Giants and will sign with a major league team instead.
Fukupdate 2 (Dec. 9, a.m.): Sports Central/WGN 720’s Dave Kaplan interviews Fukudome’s agent, Joe Urbon who says Fukudome may decide whether to play in the U.S. on Monday. That the process would move “very quickly” thereafter. (via MLBTradrumors.com)
Fukupdate 1 (Dec. 8, p.m.): Agent says Fukudome hasn’t announced he’s leaving Japan yet (via Japanball.com)
According to MLBTraderumors the Padres have made Fukudome one of the top two or three offers the team ever proposed and that an answer from Fukudome is expected tonight or tomorrow.
I’m not sure if that means Fukudome will announce who he’s signing with tonight or tomorrow or if he’s going to get back to Sandy Alderson tonight or tomorrow. In either event it looks like this might be nearing an end.
In a link also from MLBTR Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune suggests the Cubs will likely outbid other teams (incl. the Pads) for Fukudome, but that it might come down to other factors.
Sounds like the Cubs might go as high as $12 million to $15 million a year for Fukudome, so it could come down to whether he is willing to take less money to live on the West Coast.
Also, from the same Krasovic piece is this funny tidbit about the Dodgers signing of Andruw Jones.
It doesn’t appear Jones attracted several offers. Other than a $22-million, two-year bid from the Royals, the Dodgers may have been his only other firm bidder.
Tim at MLBTR complemented the signing of Jones, as does Krasovic. I think it’s nuts. Do you get rid of Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier for the priveledge of having Jones and Pierre in the same outfield, potentially costing you $30 million per year? Insane.
16 responses so far ↓
1 John Brooks // Dec 8, 2007 at 5:29 pm
I think it’s nuts. Do you get rid of Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier for the priveledge of having Jones and Pierre in the same outfield, potentially costing you $30 million per year? Insane.
I think most people agree that Dodgers GM, Ned Colletti, has just plain lost his mind since he’s took over there after they axed Paul DePodesta. The list of bad signings is neverending: Pierre, Schmidt, A.Jones, and Furcal. Couple that with the fact, that Kemp, Ethier, Broxton, and Kershaw could all be traded.
2 Joel // Dec 9, 2007 at 12:56 am
Colletti is sick. I was never a huge DePodesta fan either, but how this guy somehow takes the best farm system in baseball and turns it into Pierre, Schmidt and now Andruw Jones, is beyond me.
3 A.S. // Dec 9, 2007 at 8:26 am
If he trades away Kemp or Ethier (which at this point, he ought to because they’ve got to play Pierre and Jones everyday to justify their deals) that may be his legacy as a GM. I don’t think it’s impossible that Jones will come back and have a year closer to pre 2007 than the 2007 season itself, but if he doesn’t the deal looks pretty dumb. Who’s to say he wasn’t juicing all those years before. What if he does have a year like last year. They’ve got no one who can get on base! Except Kemp, and Looney if they play him regularly. Maybe they’ll trade for Richie Sexton and start him at first.
4 John Brooks // Dec 9, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Don’t give Colletti any ideas, he’ll easily trade away a talented youngster for Sexson. I mean he can’t have enough low-OBP players.
5 Phil // Dec 9, 2007 at 4:47 pm
“but if he doesn’t the deal looks pretty dumb”
Well, of course it does. But that’s not to say he doesn’t come back and have a great year.
6 A.S. // Dec 9, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Yeah, but what would you put the chances of Jones coming back and having a year like those previous? Lets say 50/50. But you still have to play him everyday for two years, and you likely have to get rid of either Kemp and/or Ethier.
Maybe he’ll swap Kemp for Sexton. Or how about Kemp for Dontrelle Willis? That sounds about right for Colletti.
7 John Brooks // Dec 10, 2007 at 4:42 am
Just an update to the Fukudome and the Giants leaving the Fukudome sweepstakes. The recent acquisition of Alex Ramirez ended Yomiuri’s interest in Fukudome.
8 John Brooks // Dec 10, 2007 at 10:44 am
Well, apparently the Giants haven’t signed Ramirez as last mentioned. Though on the acquisition of Kroon, it makes sense. As for Fukudome, he’s all but gone to MLB.
9 B // Dec 10, 2007 at 10:35 pm
I’m really not sold on Fukudome. It’s such a different deal over here…he’s definately not going to be throwing down a .450 OBP.
10 John Brooks // Dec 10, 2007 at 10:50 pm
he’s definately not going to be throwing down a .450 OBP.
Whoever predicted he was going to have a OBP of .450? Geez, Alex Rodriguez didn’t even have a OBP that high? As long as he has an average around .280 and a OBP around .370 or so, hits for decent power(power to the gaps), and displays decent speed he be way better than what a lot of these teams are currently throwing out there.
11 jackson // Dec 11, 2007 at 6:21 am
ESPN’s Orestes Destrade compared Fukudome to Jacques Jones during his prime. Not sure I buy the comparison because Jones wasn’t as much of an on-base guy, but if Fukudome gives that kind of production or better, he’ll be valuable to a team. a .450 OPB is a tall order to ask of nearly anyone, but I do share B’s reservations about him simply because he’s unproven and coming off of injury, and if his power numbers take a dip (which you’d have to expect), you wonder if he’s worth the 15-20 million a year he’s likely gonna get from a team. Sometimes it seems like GM’s get caught up in the bidding frenzy and make careless signings.
This goes to show if nothing else that playing defense and being able to get on base consistently can get you really far.
12 Jon // Dec 11, 2007 at 8:45 am
Kemp for Sexson would be a dream for Seattle fans. Everyone here is fed up with Sexson and would love to part with him. He’s the only guy we have that gets booed routinely at his own ballpark. GMs know he could be ok in a more hitting friendly ballpark, but they won’t touch his contract. Sexson’s strikeouts are rally suicide too.
13 A.S. // Dec 11, 2007 at 8:46 am
Padres GM Kevin Towers compares him to Brian Giles. On the surface that sounds kind of funny, but it’s actually a valuable player to have. Guys who can get on base 40% of the time are harder to find that guys who can hit 30 HRs. Look at the contract JD Drew got for that very skill.
That’s not to say he’ll get on base at a .400 clip, but it’s not out of the question. He could really make that Cub lineup gel.
14 B // Dec 12, 2007 at 3:27 pm
I wish him the best. I have to think the Cubs overpaid. If he puts up numbers like Iwamura (who people seem to compare him to) then it’s a bust.
They sure wanted him bad.
15 A.S. // Dec 12, 2007 at 6:02 pm
I think it seems like a lot too, but when Tori Hunter gets 90 mil over 5 years all bets are off. I think after a year (if not before) Fukudome will be better than either Hunter or Aaron Rowand, who I’m sure will sign a crazy 5-year $70-$80 mil deal in the next week or so.
16 jackson // Dec 12, 2007 at 11:23 pm
better than hunter? say WHAT?!?!?! Get outta here.
I’m just glad we don’t have to think about this anymore.
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